Smoke Capture Canopy Device

ABSTRACT

A device that provides methods to capture and visually enhance smoke from aroma-therapy incense and oils, candles, smokers&#39; sidestream smoke and smoke from other similar articles, and methods to inhale captured sidestream smoke. A transparent to partially transparent canopy enclosure, elevated directly above the smoking articles, captures and maintains the aforementioned smoke in its natural state that has emitted from aforementioned smoking articles. Lights of varying colors and quantities, attached to the device, are programmed for various strobe-light intervals. Smoke inhalation tubes of varying quantities, shapes and lengths are incorporated to the device enabling the optional inhalation of sidestream smoke. The spent ashes are collected in the device&#39;s base or ashtray dependent upon the embodiment. Further there are methods for affixing and positioning the smoking articles within, and directly under the canopy enclosure.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention was first described in and claim the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/628,943 filed on Nov. 9, 2011, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Non-applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Non-applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates generally to a device for smokers' sidestream smoke and smoke from aroma-therapy incense and, more particularly, the capture of said smoke for the purpose of visual enhancement, and optional inhalation of sidestream smoke.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a significant concern in society about the effects of sidestream smoke to nearby non-smokers. During the smoking process, cigarettes, cigars and pipes create sidestream smoke, which is smoke that trails directly into the atmosphere from the ignited coal of the smoking material rather than the smoke inhaled directly through the interior of the smoking article. There is a need for a means by which sidestream smoke from cigarettes, cigars and pipes can be more conveniently contained than with prior inventions. The development of the invention described herein fulfills this need.

There are various existing devices that capture sidestream smoke from the source, thus preventing sidestream smoke from entering the atmosphere. The majority of these devices are commonly referred to as “smokeless ashtrays,” and in order to function, said devices typically include fans, which can be audible to a level of irritation, and said devices include replacement batteries and replacement filters, both made of a complex array of materials. Aforementioned items of the device cause the cost of manufacture to be higher than the present invention and are more cumbersome and expensive to maintain than the present invention.

Device, U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,576 to Nazaroff, 1997 Oct. 21, include filters with “layers of granulated activated alumina and layers of alumina carbon” and the like. The creation and disposal of said filters have an adverse effect on the environment.

This patent does not appear to disclose a device that does not require a power source nor does it disclose a device that does not require a fan, nor does it disclose a device that does not require filters.

Device, U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,246 to Glenn, et al, 2000 Sep. 12, requires an intake and exhaust fan, an ashtray and motor filter, and replacement filters. This patent does not appear to disclose a device that does not require a power source nor does it disclose a device that does not require a fan, nor does it disclose a device that does not require filters.

Device, U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,853 to Hyre, 1997 Feb. 4, in addition to 5 layers of filters, includes an ignition device to be activated for the removal of sidestream smoke, said ignition device requiring an ignition fuel. The device also requires the insertion of the smoking material portion of the cigarette into the device, which is approximately the size of a 24 ounce tubular-shaped beverage can, during the entire time the cigarette is being smoked. The said insertion requirement removes a level of comfort for smokers that simply desires to hold only a light-weight, non-bulky cigarette while taking puffs, and the device does not function for pipe smokers. This patent does not appear to disclose a device that does not require a power source nor does it disclose a device that does not require a fan, nor does it disclose a device that does not require filters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, there is a need for a device that captures the sidestream smoke, for the benefit of the nearby non-smoker, from smoking articles such as, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars and pipes, that is absent the requirement of electric fans, filters and absent the requirement that said smoking articles be inserted into a device that requires the holding of the device in the smokers' hand or hands while inhaling a “puff” of smoke. It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide a device that consists of a method for capturing sidestream smoke without aforementioned voltage, fan, filter or insertion requirements in order to function.

Further, in view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, there is a need for a device that maximizes the available smoke for inhalation by a smoker. A smoker purchases smoking materials to obtain and then inhale the smoke created from the ignition of said smoking materials. A majority of said smoke is lost to inhalation as it is dissipated into the atmosphere as “sidestream” smoke. For reference, according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,955, to Keritsis, 1997 Feb. 4, original assignee Philip Morris Incorporated, in the “BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF PRIOR ART” section, it is stated, “it is generally understood that, in conventional cigarettes, about twice as much tobacco is burned in the interval between puffs compared with that consumed during puffing.”

It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide a device that includes methods for the capture of sidestream smoke, retained in its natural state, of a volume and a means for the purpose of inhalation of said sidestream smoke in the amount of a typical “drag.”

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the development of the present device described herein additionally benefits the nearby non-smoker, as sidestream smoke exhaled by the smoker, that is first inhaled from the present device, creates a reduction of the amount of harmful gases to said nearby non-smoker due to the majority of said gases having been absorbed and “filtered” by the smoker's lungs, throat and tongue.

Further, in view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, there is a need for a device that visually enhances smoke emitted from, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, aroma-therapy incense and oils. The dynamic visual nature of smoke from aforementioned smoking articles is abruptly lost to the general atmosphere. It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide methods to capture and visually enhance said smoke.

The smoke capture device, when a cigarette, cigar, pipe or other similar smokers' article is placed inside said device, captures sidestream smoke within a hollow smoke capture canopy portion of the device located directly above the smokers' article, maintaining said sidestream smoke in its natural state.

The smoke capture device may be constructed of any transparent material or partially transparent material, including but not limited to, injection-molded plastic and glass.

The smoke capture device comprises a base, in embodiment shapes that necessitate a base, that is located at the lowest portion of the smoke capture device. In a form of the invention, the base takes the shape and functionality of a typical ashtray, with a hollow upper area for the placement of smoking articles and ashes. The base includes the attachment of an elevation support, with one end of the elevation support attached at said upper area cavity of the base, and the other end of the elevation support attached to the smoke capture canopy portion, said elevation support elevating and stabilizing the smoke capture canopy portion directly above the base.

Further, in a form of the invention, the base portion comprises a base under area cavity for the purpose of placement of articles such as lighters, matches, un-ignited smoking materials and the like.

The present device comprises a means for the inhalation of captured sidestream smoke residing within the smoke capture canopy, with the use of one or more smoke inhalation tubes. In use, the smoker places their lips upon the smoke inhalation exit hole located at the exit end of the smoke inhalation tube, and then inhales the sidestream smoke accumulated within the smoke capture canopy portion of the device. The smoke inhalation tubes may reside, dependent upon the design embodiment, within the canopy, outside of the canopy or a combination of partially inside and outside of the canopy. The smoke inhalation tubes may be constructed in a variety of colors, lengths and shapes, and of any material including but not limited to, injection-molded plastic and glass. The smoke inhalation tubes may be made of a shape or diameter to accomodate the insertion of any filter material including but not limited to, the filter material typically found on a filtered cigarette.

The aforementioned construction of the smoke capture canopy device, being that of transparent to partially transparent materials, such as, but not limited to, heat-resistant injection-molded plastic or glass, enables the visualization of said smoke within, but not limited to, the smoke capture canopy portion of the device. In a form of the smoke capture canopy device, a transparent to partially transparent base and elevation support may be constructed of a hollow shape comprising of holes of various sizes and locations to allow for said smoke to arrive within, and depart from, said base and elevation support, further increasing visualization of said smoke.

The smoke capture canopy device can be constructed in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Said smoke is further visually enhanced by lights attached to the smoke capture canopy device such as, but not limited to, LED lights, laser lights, incandescent lights and fluorescent lights, of single and varying colors, of single and various glowing and strobe patterns. In the preferred embodiment, said lights may be powered by “wrist-watch” button batteries.

In a form of the invention, for the purpose of further visual enhancement of said smoke, the smoke capture canopy device comprises a “glow-in-the-dark” substance, composed of, but not limited to, strontium aluminate.

Further, embodiments of the invention may include the canopy portion constructed to resemble a human head, therefore the placement of a smoke release hole at both eye locations would result in the visually entertaining release of smoke from said eye locations when the smoke release hole covers are removed. The diversity of shapes the present invention may resemble, while maintaining all functional purposes of the invention, are immense.

As said smoke is contained within the smoke capture canopy device, shifting and altering patterns of movement and density, as smoke is further enhanced by the aforementioned lighting methods, the user of the device is visually entertained by smoke in a manner not suggested by prior art.

The visual enhancement of aforementioned sidestream smoke does not require the user to inhale said smoke. Further, the user of the present invention need not be a smoker, due to the available use of the smoke capture canopy device solely for enhancing smoke generated from aroma-therapy incense and oils, candles and other similar articles.

Further, in a form of the invention, for the purpose of increasing the interest and entertainment of the smoke capture canopy device for the user, sound-emitting electronics may be included and attached to the smoke capture canopy device that emit spoken phrases and other noises, that are activated by, but not limited to: the pressing of buttons, the turning of knobs, an active smoke detector (not shown).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are identified with like and symbols and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the smoke capture canopy device 200, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, including an ashtray 238 and cigarette 242 for illustrative purposes. FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of the smoke release hole cover 209.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the smoke capture canopy device 200, according to the alternate embodiment of the present invention, displaying elevation support 222 and base 224 portions for elevation of canopy enclosure 201 and cigarette(s) 242 for illustrative purposes. FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of the smoke release hole cover 209.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

-   200: smoke capture canopy device -   201: canopy enclosure -   202: smoke inhalation tube -   204: smoke inhalation entry hole -   206: smoke inhalation exit hole -   208: smoke release hole -   209: smoke release hole cover -   210: placement platform -   212: opening -   214: slot -   216: hole -   218: magnet -   220: hook fabric -   222: elevation support -   224: base -   226: base upper area cavity -   228: base under area cavity -   230: battery compartment -   231: battery -   232: wire -   234: lights -   238: ashtray -   240: metal pincher clip -   242: cigarette

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within FIG. 1 and in terms of its alternate embodiment depicted in FIG. 2. However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under the scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention, such as the shape of the smoke capture canopy device 200 being of a human head, or of a pumpkin, can be easily incorporated in to the teachings of the present invention, and only two (2) particular configurations shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.

The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.

The present invention describes an apparatus and methods: to capture sidestream smoke in its natural state, from cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other similar smokers' articles, improving the air quality of a nearby non-smoker: to facilitate the inhalation of sidestream smoke for a smoker: to visually enhance sidestream smoke from aroma-therapy incense and oils, and other similar articles (herein described as the “device”).

Referring now to FIG. 1, which shows a front perspective of the device 200, located directly over and above an ashtray 238. The device 200 comprises an opening 212 that allows for the placement of the ashtray 238 within the device 200, and allows for the convenient and repeated placement, and then removal of, smokers' articles as they are used for smoking. For convenience in all drawings, the smokers' article is a cigarette 242, however there are equally relevant smoking articles for the present invention such as cigars, pipes, aroma-therapy incense of various shapes such as cones, pyramids, sticks and the like, as well as candles and containers with wicks filled with liquid aroma-therapy oils (not shown).

The device 200 is transparent or partially transparent so as to enable the visualization of captured smoke that has risen from aforementioned smoking articles. The device 200 may be constructed of, but not limited to, injection-molded acrylic plastic or glass, requiring the design and use of custom molds.

The device 200 comprises attached lights 234, to further visually enhance captured smoke. The lights 234 may be, but are not limited to: LED lights, laser lights, fluorescent lights, incandescent lights. The lights 234 can be of various colors and emit light at different intervals. A method of powering the lights 234 consists of using “wrist-watch” button batteries located immediately adjacent to the lights 234, thereby eliminating the requirement for the battery compartment 230, the AA or AAA-shaped battery 231 and the wire 232 shown in FIG. 2. The preferred method of turning the lights 234 on and off, includes the use of a toggle “press on, press off” sensor switch that may reside at the light 234 compartment or other location (not shown).

The device 200 comprises smoke inhalation tube 202 of varying quantities, shapes, colors, lengths and sizes that facilitate the inhalation of sidestream smoke from within the device 200. The smoke inhalation tube 202 has a smoke inhalation entry hole 204 for the sidestream smoke to enter the smoke inhalation tube 202, and a smoke inhalation exit hole 206 for the smoker to place their lips upon, whereby smoker then inhales sidestream smoke contained within the device 200 through the smoke inhalation tube 202.

The device 200 comprises a smoke release hole 208 of various quantities, for the optional release of smoke from the device 200 by means of removing the smoke release hole cover 209 from the smoke release hole 208.

Further, the smoker may utilize the smoke release hole 208 for inhalation of sidestream smoke from within the device 200 by first removing the smoke release hole cover 209 then placing their lips around the smoke release hole 208 and inhaling. The smoke release hole 208 may be round, oval or other shapes, consisting essentially of equal depth to the thickness of the smoke capture canopy 200 portion of the invention.

The device 200 comprises means for affixing smoking articles upon the device 200. A slot 214 and a hole 216, of which there are various sizes and quantities, enable the affixing of a cigarette 242, or cigar or stick-shaped incense (not shown). The slot 214 and hole 216 are not required to be used, or required to exist for the proper use of the smoke capture canopy due to the use of an ashtray 238 that is able to accommodate all aforementioned smoking articles. (The use of the magnet 218 and hook fabric 220 in FIG 1. are explained in the subsequent description of FIG. 2 due to the visual addition of metal alligator clips in FIG. 2).

Referring now to FIG. 2, the opening 212 allows for aforementioned capture of smoke within the canopy 201. A magnet 218 attached to the canopy enclosure 201 enables the affixing of a metal pincher clip 240 to the canopy enclosure 201, metal pincher clip 240 for the purpose of pinch-gripping a cigarette 242 or cigar or stick-shaped incense or cone-shaped incense (not shown). The “hook” fabric 220 of “hook-and-loop” material, whereby the “loop” portion is attached to the metal pincher clip 240 which enables the affixing of the metal pincher clip 240 to the canopy enclosure 201, metal pincher clip 240 pinch-gripping a cigarette 242, cigar or stick-shaped incense or cone-shaped incense (not shown).

The base 224 is formed in the shape of a typical ashtray. The base 224 includes a base upper area cavity 226 for the placement of aforementioned smoking articles and ashes. The base 224 includes a base under area cavity 228 for the placement of smoking articles, smoking materials, lighters, matches and other similar items, and access to battery compartment 230. The battery 231 (which may be AA, AAA, C, D, “wrist-watch” button or 9-volt) resides within the battery compartment 230, battery used to power lights 234 with the use of a connecting wire 232 located within the hollow elevation support 222. The base 224 includes the attachment of an elevation support 222, with the lower end attached to base upper area cavity 226, and the upper end of the elevation support 222 attached to the canopy enclosure 201, said elevation support 222 elevating and stabilizing the canopy enclosure 201 portion directly above the base 224.

The placement platform 210 accommodates the placement of all aforementioned smoking articles and may be constructed in the shape of a typical ashtray 238. The hole 216 can be made in various sizes to accommodate the placement of a cigarette 242, cigar, stick-shaped aroma-therapy incense or other similar article (not shown).

The methods of utilizing the smoke capture canopy device 200 may be achieved by performing the following steps: turn on lights 234: ignite a smoking article such as a cigarette 242: inhale then exhale a puff into the general atmosphere: place ignited cigarette 242 within the ashtray 238 located within the smoke capture canopy device 200: view visually enhanced smoke as it is captured within the smoke capture canopy device 200: repeat puffing cigarette 242 as desired: repeat the placement of cigarette 242 within the ashtray 238 while smoking to allow the capture of sidestream smoke within the device 200: tap ashes developed on ignited end of cigarette 242 into ashtray 238 as needed: if inhalation of sidestream smoke is desired, place lips around smoke inhalation exit hole 206 of smoke inhalation tube 202: inhale sidestream smoke from within smoke capture canopy device 200. Another method: turn on lights 234: ignite a smoking article such as aroma-therapy incense in the shape (for example) of a cone (not shown in drawings): place ignited cone within the ashtray 238 located within the smoke capture canopy device 200: view visually enhanced smoke captured within the smoke capture canopy device 200. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A smoke capture canopy device for containing and maintaining smokers' sidestream smoke, for reducing sidestream smoke discharge into the atmosphere, and for the visual enhancement of said sidestream smoke, and said smoke capture canopy device maintaining said sidestream smoke in its natural state, and enabling inhalation of said sidestream smoke if the smoker so desires, and for said smoke capture canopy device to capture, contain and visually enhance smoke from aroma-therapy incense, oils, candles and similar smoking articles, said smoke capture canopy device comprising: a transparent to partially transparent canopy enclosure, constructed of a suitable heat-resistant material such as, but not limited to, acrylic plastic or glass, shaped and elevated directly above said smoking articles such that the canopy enclosure captures and maintains smoke in its natural state: smoke inhalation tubes shaped and positioned upon the smoke capture canopy device that are used to inhale sidestream smoke through if the smoker so chooses to: said smoke inhalation tubes shaped in a manner whereby smoker can insert smoke filter material commonly found on filtered cigarettes, into said smoke inhalation tubes if smoker so desires: lights attached on the smoke capture canopy device that when turned on, further visually enhance the captured smoke with the smoke capture canopy device: sound-emitting electronics attached to the smoke capture canopy device that when activated, add audio entertainment, thus further increasing the overall entertainment value of the smoke capture canopy device: attachment methods and placement platforms, attached at various locations of the smoke capture canopy device, for a means to attach and place smoking articles to said device: an opening for the placement of an ashtray within the smoke capture canopy device embodiment that facilitates ashtray. 